Despite being the No. 1-ranked fighter in one UFC division, Max Holloway called his status in the top 15 “ridiculous.” But for a good reason.
Being ranked in the UFC is a big deal to fighters on the roster. It is a sign they are among the 15 best on Earth in a specific weight class. In the promotion’s current featherweight rankings, division legend Max Holloway is ranked only behind reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski. But it is a designation he believes is silly. And he has a good point.
“I don’t know what you guys are thinking keeping me No. 1 contender. It’s kind of ridiculous. I am not going back to [145 pounds]. I’m over it,” Holloway told MMA Junkie. “Just being able to on certain days where you go harder and recover good with meals. Eating more protein. Putting a little bit more supplements in me is much better than just toughing it out. Without that in the back of my mind, it’s a great feeling.”
Related: Max Holloway next fight – Get details on “Blessed’s” UFC return
The featherweight great made a temporary jump to lightweight in April 2024 with an electrifying knockout win over former interim champ Justin Gaethje. Yet, the victory over a top-five talent didn’t land him a similar spot in the lightweight rankings. A moment that made him doubt how well-maintained the UFC rankings were.
Then, he announced he was making an official move to 155 pounds after a knockout loss to Ilia Topuria in October. He was sure that would lead to big changes to his featherweight ranking. Yet little has changed, despite even his recent foe being removed from the top 15 after he relinquished the belt and won the lightweight title last month at UFC 317.
“I thought when the rankings would come out, I wouldn’t come out at No. 9 [after the Gaethje win]. That’s just ridiculous when the guy was at five, or four, or something,” he recalls. “The rankings, they’re all over the place. Even with Ilia coming up. As soon as they announced he’s coming up, they took him directly out of the damn ’45 [rankings] and they left me No. 1 contender.
“That was even more reason I was like, ‘What the hell’s going on?’ It’s ridiculous. I don’t understand. The rankings period, I don’t get them.”
Max Holloway returns next week in the main event of UFC 318 when he defends his BMF title against Dustin Poirier in his opponent’s retirement fight.
